Abstract
Careful assessment of nutritional needs of dogs and cats must be taken into consideration in order to maintain optimum health, be part of a treatment regimen for a diseased state, or to maximise the quality of life in all animals. Therefore, the goal of these WSAVA Guidelines is that a nutritional assessment and specific nutritional recommendation be made on every patient on every visit. This will become known as the 5th Vital Assessment (5VA), following the four vital assessments of temperature, pulse, respiration and pain that are already addressed on each patient interaction. Routinely doing a brief screening evaluation of the nutritional status during history taking and the physical examination can be seamlessly performed as part of every patient exam. Nutrition-related risk factors that can be easily identified from the history and physical examination include age (growing or old), suboptimal body condition score (overweight or thin), muscle loss, atypical or homemade diet, medical conditions, or changes in appetite. An extended evaluation would follow, if one or more risk factors is identified on screening. These guidelines provide criteria to evaluate the animal and the diet, as well as key feeding and environmental factors. In addition, recommendations for interpretation, analysis, and action are included so that a plan for optimising the animal's nutritional status can be instituted. Client compliance with nutritional recommendations requires input from the veterinarian, veterinary technicians/nurses, and the hospital staff. A team approach to continuous nutritional education, implementation of appropriate protocols, and focused client communication, utilising these WSAVA Nutritional Guidelines, are key components to reach this 5VA goal.
Highlights
The WSAVA has developed a global initiative to standardise five vital signs as part of the standard physical examination for all small animals
Incorporating the screening evaluation described in these guidelines as the 5th vital sign in the standard physical examination requires little to no additional time or cost
Incorporating nutritional assessment and recommendations into the care of small animals helps to develop a partnership between the owner and veterinary healthcare team, resulting in healthier pets
Summary
The WSAVA has developed a global initiative to standardise five vital signs as part of the standard physical examination for all small animals. Problems related to animal factors are referred to as nutrient sensitive disorders (e.g. intolerances, allergies, and organ specific diseases). Diet choice for these patients should be restricted to those formulated to meet the disease-associated nutritional limitations of the specific patient. Problems related to diet factors are referred to as diet-induced disorders (e.g. nutrient imbalances, spoilage, contamination, adulteration) Patients with these disorders may be treated by feeding a diet known to be appropriate for the patient. Screening evaluation is performed on every patient Based on this screening, pets that are healthy and without risk factors need no additional nutritional assessment. Information collected should include assessment of factors specific to the animal, the diet, and feeding management/environment.
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